Academics

College Counseling

Individualized, purposeful, personal.

For our students, these three words sum up the GPS college counseling experience.

The college process at GPS focuses on the girl, not the college, and students are encouraged to take an active role in their own college search. By learning to consider their individual strengths and stories, students can then discover the colleges and universities that best meet their needs and aspirations. To assist them, the college counselors will help them develop a college list based on their unique criteria.

College Counseling by Grade & Special Events

The road to college is a series of questions and answers, both for the counselors and for each girl as she seeks the college that will be “the best fit.” To help each girl develop her plan for finding her choice college, the College Counseling office has developed a multi-year process.

List of 4 items.

Freshman & Sophomore Years

Each freshman and sophomore has an opportunity to meet with her counselor and register on the college database management system SCOIR. Parents are invited to attend Cup of College (early morning coffee sessions) or quarterly open office hours.

Quarterly newsletters go out to Upper School families, and each sophomore is assigned a counselor in her second semester.
Junior Year

The college process picks up pace in students’ junior year, beginning with a Countdown to College brunch in September. At the brunch, each girl reviews a copy of her transcript, and counselors discuss topics such as teacher recommendations, college visits, and what questions should be asked on a college tour.

Midyear small group lunches preview the upcoming college classes, which start in the second semester, with getting-to-know-you questionnaires that reveal the nonacademic side of each girl. Classes generate lots of discussions among girls about what to look for in a college, how to write a résumé and use social media platforms in the admission process, and how to craft their personal stories. A college scavenger hunt introduces girls to schools they may not have considered.

The Road to College evening program features a panel of college admissions deans and is open to all students and their parents. During the school day, the deans lead the students in small groups through sample fictional applications, or case studies.

Girls and their parents join with the counselors in individual conferences during the second semester and through the summer. Here they start to develop their college lists, are encouraged to go on college tours, and have discussions about financial aid and scholarships.
Senior Year

In summer workshops, girls move from brainstorming essay ideas to a first draft. An additional application boot camp guides students through the multiple applications they will submit.

After school starts, a quick College Class 2.0 reviews applications and scholarships, short answer responses and essays, social media, and etiquette. A College Process Planner helps seniors keep track of deadlines and other responsibilities. Throughout the year, girls are welcome in the college offices to conference with their counselors, and a special Milk and Cookies day opens the offices for girls to work on essays and hopefully submit one.

Each girl’s decision is announced on social media through active Twitter and Instagram accounts (@GPSCollege) and on the May 1 common reply date, the office hosts a signing day celebration.
Special Events
- A program with the athletic office provides guidance in understanding NCAA rules and regulations.
- A Financial Aid Night features a speaker from a college financial aid office. Emory University and Rhodes College have participated in the past.
- Six morning Cup of College sessions are scheduled for parents to get their own questions answered and often receive advice from parents of alumnae.
- Newsletters for all grades (monthly for 11-12, quarterly for 9-10) cover college admission trends, upcoming dates, and deadlines.
- A Winterim College Tour (California, D.C./Baltimore, Philly/NY, and Texas universities have been toured in the past.)
- A faculty member who was a panhellenic advisor presents a workshop to seniors on Greek life.
- GPS cosponsors the annual citywide Coast-to-Coast College Fair and coordinates three College Nights with McCallie in the fall for sophomores and juniors.

Meet the College Counseling Staff

List of 3 items.

Susan McCarter

Director of College Guidance
Email
423.634.7625
Amelia Mann

Associate Director of College Counseling
Email
423.634.5441
Karen Richards

Administrative Assistant
Email
423.634.7624

College Counseling Programming

In addition to specific grade-level workshops and meetings, our college office hosts a number of events throughout the year, including a financial aid night, grade-level student and parent meetings, an athletic program led by our director of athletics, and a college deans panel open to all grade levels. Counselors also host quarterly College Conversations on campus to discuss admissions trends and answer any questions parents might have.

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College Visits

Through intimate, on-campus evening college fairs and campus day visits, GPS students have the opportunity to visit with 100+ college representatives each year. GPS also co-hosts the annual Coast-to-Coast College Fair, which draws colleges from across the country and beyond. Additionally, the college counselors personally visit colleges throughout the year and host representatives on campus to meet with girls who express interest. Students are advised before interacting with college representatives on good questions to ask and to approach schools they may not have considered before.

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Interdepartmental Relationships

The college counseling office works closely with the athletic department, class deans, advisors, and academic departments to thoughtfully advise and support students.

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Beyond GPS

Active in their professional organizations and armed with a wealth of experience, the college counselors have held positions as President of the Southern Association for College Admissions Counseling and co-director of SACAC’s Summer Seminar, a program for new professionals. In addition, they have served on national committees and college advisory boards as well as presented at conferences across the nation.

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The College Process

Based on each student and family’s criteria, GPS college counselors encourage girls to consider appropriate and challenging college options over a broad geographic area. Although each student is responsible for taking control of her journey, she is assisted through all aspects of the application, scholarship, and financial aid process with the ultimate goal of finding a college that best meets her academic, social, and financial needs.

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Senior Year

Summer essay workshops, a two-day college seminar at the beginning of the year, application strategies, mock interviews, letters of recommendation, and a full proofreading of applications before submission are just some of the ways the office supports seniors in the application process.

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GPS College Graduates from the Classes of 2011-14

90% graduated in four years or fewer
38% obtained degrees in stem fields which is more than 5x higher than the national average of 7%. *collegefactual.com
90% completed college at their original institution (did not transfer). The national average for women is 48%. *nscresearchcenter.org